Chef Michael King of St. Clouds performing the last cooking demonstration of 2009 at Madrona Farmers Market. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Today is the final day of the 2011 season at your Madrona Farmers Market, and it has been another wonderful year! Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers and food artisan, and be sure to extend your thanks to them as you visit today for feeding you the best food anywhere all summer long. But alas, it is getting darker earlier and earlier every night, and the sun will set today before the Market even closes. So come down and stock up now for the cold, dark, wet months. And enjoy our final cooking demonstration of the season today at 4 p.m. with Chef Michael King of St. Clouds.
Fresh leeks from One Leaf Farm. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Just look at these gorgeous leeks from One Leaf Farm. Yup, it’s leek season, and that means it’s time for all manner of savory deliciousness to warm up your kitchen on a cool fall night. Think of the potato-leek soup, the leek tarts, and on and on. The possibilities are endless!
Hales peaches from Billy's Gardens. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Billy’s Gardens still has plenty of these juicy, ripe Hales peaches for you to enjoy. Plus, they still have lots of big beef, cherry and heirloom tomatoes, too. And if you want to enjoy this local deliciousness all fall and winter long, load up today, and spend the weekend canning these beauties!
Fresh cannellini peans from Stoney Plains. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Let these fresh cannellini beans from Stoney Plains dry in their pods, then shell them, and you can store them in your cabinet for many months. Shell them while they are still a bit green, then freeze them in pint freezer bags, and you can enjoy them like fresh for months. Fresh shelling beans don’t require soaking, don’t need to be blanched before freezing, take just 20 minutes to cook in boiling water, and provide a different flavor profile than the same beans dried. But now’s the time to stock up. Store some both ways!
Jersey blueberries from Sidhu Farms. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
These Jersey blueberries from Sidhu Farms may be tiny, but they pack an enormous blueberry flavor. They are one of my favorite blueberries — remind me of the wild ones I picked in Maine as a kid. If you want to enjoy these all winter long, buy a few flats today, then freeze them on a baking sheet one layer deep. Once frozen, you can slide them into a gallon freezer bag and continue the process with the next batch. You’ll end up with about a gallon bag of loose frozen berries for each flat, easy to use in muffins and oatmeal.
A beautiful, pasture-raised chicken from Growing Things Farm in Carnation. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.
If you have never tried a chicken from Growing Things Farm, you really don’t know what a chicken tastes like. Quite simply, these are the best. Heck, my family eats them instead of turkey for Thanksgiving. They’ll have some of these luscious birds today, frozen, at your Madrona Farmers Market, so you can grab a couple or three and enjoy them when you are ready.
Wild chanterelle mushrooms from Red Owl Mushroom Farm. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Truth be told, Red Owl Mushroom Farm didn’t grow these wild chanterelle mushrooms. They’re wild harvested. But who cares? They friggin’ awesome! Buy ‘em. Eat ‘em. You can thank me later!
Cauliflower from Oxbow Farm. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Oxbow Farm is famous for having some of the most extraordinary produce to be found anywhere, and their cauliflower is no exception. And for my money, this year’s cauliflower crop is one of the best ever. It is so sweet when oven-roasted. I just toss it with some salt and pepper in olive oil and roast at about 425 degrees until fork tender, preferably with a little browning action going on. And for a little extra flavor, add some cumin!
Fuji apples from ACMA Mission Orchards. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
Fuji apples mean without a doubt that it is fall. And these gorgeous Fuji apples from ACMA Mission Orchards are certain to satisfy the entire household, while simultaneously keeping the doctor away. Stock up on these and many other varieties of apples today, and store them in a cool, dark place, and you can enjoy them for weeks.
Gorgeous display of roots from Full Circle Farm. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.
If we gave awards for spectacular displays, this display of carrots and radishes by Big Dave from Full Circle Farm would without question be in the running. I mean, don’t you just want to reach into the photo and grab one of those carrots to munch on? Our local farmers grow some of the finest produce to be found anywhere, but they say the first taste is with the eyes, and thus it is often the brilliant artistry of each farm’s Market staff that ultimately catches your attention. It also makes we photographers very happy!
Remember, there is plenty more to tantalize your taste buds today at your Madrona Farmers Market. For a fuller accounting, see What’s Fresh Now!
Tags: apples, blueberries, carrots, cauliflower, chanterelle mushrooms, chef, Chef Michael King, chicken, cooking demonstration, farmers market, food, leeks, Madrona, Madrona Farmers Market, mushrooms, peaches, radishes, Seattle, shelling beans
